(JJ Sinclair) wrote in message ...
Ups, forgot some stuff.

One thing you didn't mention was an emergency locator transmitter
(ELT). Small low cost units are readily available. There have been
crashes that the pilot survived, only to die before a search party
could be organized and the pilot located.


The only thing I would add to this excellent write-up is that USAF survival
training is to stay with your downed aircraft unless you have a compelling
reason to leave. The aircraft is much easier to spot than a lone survivor.
Splice the antenna lead, if the radio is otherwise working.

Make use of your parachute. spread it out during the day, it's a good marker
signal. Wrap up in it at night. Use the riser lines as rope. splint a broken
leg with chute container and shroud lines, etc., etc. One could write a book on
the use of your parachute, other than for the traditional, *nylon descent*.

During daylight hours, make smoke from a small fire. During the summer, in the
California woods, you are likely to have a Forest Service spotter plane on you
in a heart beat. Don't start a forest fire, just a very small *smoke* producer.
What most of us accomplish whenever we try to light a camp fire------------Just
smoke, no flame.

You will need someway of starting the fire, such as matches. In a
pinch you could short the battery with a small gage wire (if the wire
is stranded use a single strand). A small gage wire has more
resistance and will heat up more than a larger gage (which is what a
fuse is).

Also, are you dressed to spend the night in the mountains? It gets
cold up there.

Tom